Tag Archives: Gravity

2016 Oscar Winners leaping ahead!

2016 Oscar Winners leaped ahead! 

written by Souranath Banerjee

It is that time of the year when decisions are made and a few extraordinary artists take the leap ahead with the golden statues shining in their hands.

Pic-12Yes, the time for the 2016 Oscar winners!

The competition was exceptionally tough this year (just like any other year), and though we always like to say that everyone nominated are all winners but then sadly, only some people actually win.

Here are the movies that ruled the Oscar stage yesterday and a flashback of all these films for a quick recap.

Spotlight (Won 2 awards)

Category: Best Picture and Original Screenplay (Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy)

spotlight-poster2My Ratings: 4.4/5. 

‘Since All the President’s Men in 1976, I think this film here, Spotlight, has taken the theme of ‘reporters unveiling a conspiracy theory’ to a new height of extraordinary.’

‘Written and directed by Tom McCarthy (his directional debut The Station Agent is one of my all time favorite), and here also, he has done a tremendous job. The pace and the overall effect of the film is so intense that it gives you the feel of a classic thriller. ‘

 

The Revenant (won 3 awards)

Category: Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Director (Alejandro Inarritu) and for Best Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki)

revenant-poster2My Ratings: 4.4/5.

‘there is an immense amount of expectation for Mr. Iñárritu’s latest film The Revenant, and then again, when the ever-impressive Leonardo DiCaprio is in the lead, tagging with him all that debate about – can this be finally Leonardo’s Oscar moment or not?’

‘the film is shot by ace cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki who has already won two Oscars for his brilliant camera work in films Birdman and Gravity.’

 

Mad Max: Fury Road (won 6 awards)

Category: Best Editing (Margaret Sixel), Best Sound Mixing (Chris Jenkins, Greg Rudloff and Ben Osmo), Best Sound editing (Mark Mangini and David White), Best Production Design (Colin Gibson), Best Costume Design (Jenny Beavan) and Best Make Up and hair Styling (Lesley Vanderwalt, Elka Wardega and Damian Martin).

mad-max-poster6My Ratings: 4.1/5.

‘A two hours non-stop action extravaganza, a roller coaster ride of brutal excitement, insane adrenaline rush and high-octane drama.’

‘a super-fast editing by Margaret Sixel and Jason Ballantine perfectly complements the mood of the film.’

‘Minimal use of dialogues, quick introduction of characters and real horrific violence – Mad Max: Fury Road is a treat for action genre lovers. Undoubtedly the best action flick of recent times.’

 

Room

Category: Best Actress (Brie Larson)

room-poster1My Ratings: 4.4/5.

‘Specially Brie Larson who as the protective mother, dealing with her certitudes and also her vulnerabilities has given one of the best performances I have seen in a long time!’

‘Essentially it’s a thriller that involves the account of a daring attempt to slip away from the clutches of a ruthless kidnapper but on a deeper note the film is a complex sensitive drama and an expert dissection of human psychology.’

 

The Big Short 

Category: Best Adopted Screenplay (Charles Randolph and Adam McKay)

big-short-poster2My Ratings: 4/5.

‘Based on the book with the same name by financial journalist Michael Lewis, co-writer and director Adam McKay has been successful in adding enough humor to dilute the financial jargon and make the film coherent for everybody.’

‘focuses on a group of people who noticed and predicted the devastating financial crisis well ahead and even profited from it!’

 

The Danish Girl

Category: Best Supporting Actress (Alicia Vikander)

danish-girl-poster1My Ratings: 3.8/5.

Only such powerful acting could hold the film together with enough distinction.

‘to an utter surprise to his wife Gerda, Einar has a sudden urge to change his sexual orientation and reveals that he actually wants to be Lili in her real life; he claims that he seems to be a women trapped in a man’s body!’

 

Bridge of Spies

Category: Best Supporting Actor (Mark Rylance)

bridge-of-spies-poster1My Ratings: 3.8/5.

‘Bridge of Spies is actually a biopic on American insurance-attorney James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks)’

‘Firstly, he had to defend a captured Soviet spy Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) in the American court of justice and then, he was recruited by the CIA and sent to the-then hostile Germany (Berlin being partitioned) to negotiate a spy-exchange mission between the two rival countries – America and Russia.’

 

Ex Machina

Category: Best Visual Effects (Andrew Whitehurst, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and Sara Bennett)

ex-machina-poster3My Ratings: 4/5.

‘But the real winner in this 1 hour 48 min futuristic drama is the brilliant use of visual effects. The amazing special effects give the film it’s much necessary believability.’

‘A bit slow paced maybe, and mostly dialogue based but in spite of not being personally a fan of Sci Fi movies, i find it pretty impressive.’

 

Spectre

Category: Best Original song (Song: Writing’s On The Wall, music and lyric: Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith)

spectre-poster6My Ratings: 3/5.

‘Though music by Thomas Newman is as usual effective and blends well with Hoyte Van Hoytema‘s cinematography.’

‘Spectre starts with a thrilling helicopter sequence in Mexico that promises a power pact film but unfortunately, by the end of it’s almost two and a half hours run time, the film struggles to keep you entertained.’

 

Inside Out

Category: Best Animated Feature Film (Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera)

Inside-Out-Poster2My Ratings: 4.5/5.

‘This 94 min film gives the children their beloved world of funny characters and colorful fantasy but at the same time it offers enough scope for serious thoughts (and admiration) for the grown-ups.’

‘Superb voice overs by a variety of talented artists. Animation quality at it’s best but again that is kind of expected from a Pixar feature. But the best part of Inside Out is its concept – so brilliantly innovative!’

 

Bear Story – Animated Short Film (Gabriel Osorio and Pato Escala)

The Hateful Eight – Original Score (Ennio Morricone)

Stutterer – Live Action Short Film (Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage)

Pic-11Amy – Best Documentary – Feature (Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees)

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness – Best Documentary – Short Subject (Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy)

Son of Saul – Best foreign language film (Country: Hungary; Directed by László Nemes)

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comoscar.go.com.

The Revenant (2015)

The Revenant review

The basic storyline seems pretty ordinary though, but the execution is simply exceptional from all perspectives of filmmaking. 

written by Souranath Banerjee

My Ratings: 4.4/5.

Alejandro González Iñárritu claimed the Oscar last year in the ‘Best Achievement in Directing‘ category for his film Birdman, and winning the ‘Best Motion Picture of the Year‘ and ‘Best Original Screenplay‘ awards as well!

So not surprisingly, there is an immense amount of expectation for revenant-poster1Mr. Iñárritu’s latest film The Revenant, and then again, when the ever-impressive Leonardo DiCaprio is in the lead, tagging with him all that debate about – can this be finally Leonardo’s Oscar moment or not?

And on top of that, the film is shot by ace cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki who has already won two Oscars for his brilliant camera work in films Birdman and Gravity. He should have also won for two of his previous films The Tree of Life and Children of Men but again that’s another debate for another time.

So coming back to The Revenant, a thrilling revenge saga dated way revenant-poster2back in 1823, a dangerous time for the American fur traders and trappers who not only had to survive the treacherous climate but also the Indians for whom they were guests not particularly welcomed.

‘I ain’t afraid to die anymore. I’d done it already.’

Leonardo DiCaprio playing the part of Hugh Glass (the film is inspired by his real life endeavors), who was a frontiersman on a fur trading expedition, an explorer in the true sense of the word, a survivor who came back from dead and most importantly, a man with vengeance on his mind.

‘He’s afraid. He knows how far I came to find him.’

And Tom Hardy on the other hand, playing the intense yet crooked character of John Fitzgerald, who in a way was the real reason of Hugh Glass’s will to survive!

Superlative performances by both DiCaprio (through minimal use of revenant-poster3dialogues) and Tom Hardy; and aptly supported by the likes of Kristoffer JonerLukas HaasDomhnall GleesonWill Poulter and Forrest Goodluck.

Composers Ryuichi Sakamot and Carsten Nicolai does justice to the stunning visuals and Stephen Mirrione does a fair job with the edit.

Often vicious and violent (specially the bear attack scene), The Revenant was shot in twelve different locations and three different countries, chronologically for as long as 80 days and that too almost entirely using natural light!

A 2 hours and 36 minutes of cinematic bliss not to be missed under any circumstances.

P.S. – For the record, Leonardo sleeping in an actual gutted carcass of a horse is not true, the carcass was a prosthetic one. Though Leo did eat a bison liver for real to capture the authenticity of that shot!

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.revenantmovie.com

Why The Martian can never be an Interstellar or a Gravity?

Why The Martian can never be an Interstellar or a Gravity?

written by Souranath Banerjee

This article is only for those who have already seen The Martian OR for those who have no intention of seeing it in near future.

Yesterday i watched Ridley Scott‘s latest space adventure The Martian (2015) and the film made me love Interstellar (2014) and Gravity (2013) more than ever!

Well, that’s just another way of saying that The Martian is extremely over hyped.

martian-posterOf course I have my reasons for pillorying everyone’s favorite film (so it seems because of it’s box-office collections) but before that, let me put forward a few points which are actually pretty impressive in the film (unfortunately only a few).

Firstly, no doubt Matt Damon‘s acting skills!

He almost single handedly towed the film to stability; nothing extraordinary though but always up to the mark, he never gave anything for us (pseudo-critics) to complain about. 

The same goes for the entire cast actually – Jessica ChastainKristen WiigJeff DanielsMackenzie DavisMichael PeñaSean BeanChiwetel EjioforKate Marapretty stereotyped casting and everyone sleepwalked through their roles with distinction.

And then, the other thing that is unique about The Martian is the concept of potato-farming in Mars.

martian-poster3Yes, the possibility of a botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon) to science the shit out and start growing his own food to survive in the red planet – now that’s something innovative and probably the one and only ‘wow’ element of the film.

They say once you grow crops somewhere, you have officially colonized it. So, technically, I colonized Mars. In your face, Neil Armstrong!

Other than this, the script simply cannot be more predictable.

Within the first fifteen minutes the basic storyline is more or less visible to you – a man thought to be dead but very much alive, deserted in some lonely planet and now he has to survive through great difficulties until he is rescued.

And you won’t believe your speculation skills – absolutely no diversions, no surprises, no twists in the storyline – and yes, at the end he actually gets rescued!

martian-poster5US government has always invested and taken great risks to rescue Matt Damon, be it in Saving Private Ryan or in Interstellar. So The Martian doesn’t come to us as a surprise in that context as well. 

And thus, the whole film is about How astronaut Matt tries to survive and How NASA tries to bring him back – and then, even many of these ‘Hows’ can be anticipated.

For example in the middle of the film when everything seems to be suspiciously going fine; in Mars the potatoes are growing fat enough and in Earth the NASA rescue plans are looking possible, then suddenly Jeff Daniels (the head of NASA) looks almost directly to the camera and says something like ‘i hope nothing goes wrong in-between’!

And in the very next scene (as so expected) some accident brings death to Matt’s potato plants.

In several such occasions the film is too easy to predict and even the problems or the related emotions are too much on your face.

Visual effects was though pretty good over all, except for the titling- sequence-debris being unnecessarily noisy and jittery. And also the poorly mismatched shots of a body double being used to show the skinny version of Matt Damon towards the end of the film (before he finally does the long build up Iron Man stunt).

martian-poster6The comparison with the two earlier mega-space films Interstellar and Gravity are inevitable but unfortunately The Martain neither have the brilliant plot twists of Interstellar nor the innovativeness of Gravity.

Legendary director Ridley Scott has given us far better SiFi films earlier in his career, the likes of Blade Runner (1982) and Alien (1979) and thus our anticipations are always rocket high.

Anyways, let’s cheers to the discovery of water in Mars and to better Mars/space films in future!

Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com

Most sexually explicit erotic films ever made (20+1list)

Most sexually explicit erotic films ever made

written by Souranath Banerjee

Most sexually explicit erotic films ever made: ‘The difference between pornography and erotica is lighting.’ – Gloria Leonard.

The above quote may be true to a certain extent but it needs a lot more than just lighting to create beautiful erotic Cinematic moments.

There is a thin line that separates erotica from porn; often indeed a difficult task to specifically define their boundaries. I Am Curious (Yellow)

Lust, desire, urge, passion – cinema has the capability to arouse all these powerful emotions in the audience but only a handful of directors have actually used erotica to its full potential.

It’s not about simply showing sexual content but about creating the mood, the flavor, the drama and enhancing the emotions of the characters through it. The best sex scenes in a movie (no matter how explicit they are) serve their true purpose only if they justify the story-line.

And then, of course, how sensually they are enacted and dramatized is directly proportional to the audience’s excitement!

Here are some of the most sexually explicit erotic films made by the very finest directors from across the world.

Hope you enjoy the list.

20. Ken Park (2002)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IeRBVFcEhU

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsA unique portrayal of the lives of a handful of teenagers who has two things in common – dysfunctional families and skateboards.

Oh! and Sex too.

Directed by Larry Clark and Edward Lachman, this movie tries its best to bring-out the messed-up dilemmas of young suburban minds specially in regard to their sexual desires. Both experimental and explicit, definitely worth a watch.

19. Shame (2011)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24cjqfVv1fs

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsA man who can’t seem to maintain a steady relationship because he is always looking for sex! The complexities of the twisted mind of a sex addict and the burden of ‘shame’ he has to shoulder have never been so accurately shown before.

Director Steve McQueen and actor Michael Fassbender join hands after Hunger (2008), creates something so emotionally complex, controversial and yet so alluring.  

18. Shortbus (2006)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Z_K1tDkEa4

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films“So you’re a sex therapist and you’ve never had an orgasm?”

No sex therapists needed, if you are a New Yorker and having problems in your sexual relationships you visit to this exclusive club ‘Shortbus’.

Opened at 2006 Cannes Film Festival – director John Cameron Mitchell takes us through an explicit and exclusive journey of fun and sensuality.

17. Don’t Look Down (2008)

No mires para abajo (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtSp0mi4twA

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsA disturbed teenager while sleepwalking falls on the bed of a sensual girl who teaches him all about the ‘birds and the bees’ and much more!

Directed by Eliseo Subiela, a highly underrated film that speaks about death and sexuality, love and pleasure.

Definitely the most erotic coming of age movie ever made!

16. Sexual Chronicles of a French Family (2012)

Chroniques sexuelles d’une famille d’aujourd’hui (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmcwW5VQNX0

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsA young teenager boy is caught masturbating in biology class and gets suspended from school. But before he eventually gets some real action his entire (French) family open up about their sexual experiences and desires!

Directed by Pascal Arnold and Jean-Marc Barr, a film that treats sex as a basic human necessity as sometimes it’s difficult to digest the fact that everyone (including our family members and relatives) enjoy the act of sex and there is nothing wrong about it.

15. En la cama (2005)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV92axPOADM

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsTwo strangers meet up at a party and end up in a hotel room to have sex – casual sex. But can such a random encounter between two unknown people mean anything more significant than just a night of passion?

Directed by Matías Bize, the entire film is shot in one location with only two actors who share their fears, desires and emotions while having sex in regular intervals!

14. Lie with Me (2005)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_lZsadY9XE

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsA nymphomaniac girl finally meets her equal – an aggressive artist with whom she soon starts a steamy relationship but then he is a possessive man who demands commitment and she seems to be not ready for that yet.

Directed by Clement Virgo, one of the most sexy and well-shot film with abundance of explicit content through which the central characters are sketched and defined.

13. The Exterminating Angels (2006)

Les anges exterminateurs (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJYmQcgx8-o

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsA filmmaker is keen on making a project about ‘female pleasure’. And so he starts taking multiple auditions of females – some pleasuring themselves and others pleasuring each-other.

Directed by Jean-Claude Brisseau, this is one underrated voyeuristic film that not only has many explicit scenes but it also successfully portrays a genuine and sensual side of love-making which is rare.

12. Bitter Moon (1992)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3EMSHqkbfI

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films‘Everyone has a sadistic streak, and nothing brings it out better than the knowledge you’ve got someone at your mercy.’

Directed by acclaimed Roman Polanski, and Emmanuelle Seigner at her sexiest – this film has some of the most sensual scenes wrapped by a brilliant story of revenge and betrayal. Obsessive lust can often work the other way and doom a relationship for ever.

11. Love (2015)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrLwFw7kFI8

Sexually-explicit-erotic-filmsA couple who invites another girl into their bed but soon their threesome fun seems to misbalance their emotional relationship equilibrium.

Plenty of explicit sex scenes, stylishly shot and 3D too (a market strategy I guess), but overall there is an honesty about the characters which you can’t ignore.

Directed by Gaspar Noé, this is his unique and trippy take on sentimental sexuality. Go figure!

10. Stranger by the Lake (2013)

L’inconnu du lac (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgcEGKn7waI

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

The lake – a secluded spot for the strangers to become lovers. But what if one suspects his lover to be a murderer?

Directed by Alain Guiraudie, a suspense thriller that contains graphic gay sex. The sex scenes in this French film are natural yet non apologetic.

Not a single woman (actor) is used in the film!

9. In the Realm of the Senses (1976)

Ai no korîda (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP46wzCt-DA

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

This Japanese cinema was the first ever non-pornographic film to show some of the most unconventional sexual obsessions.

Directed by Nagisa Ôshima, the film is about the affair of a possessive woman and her master which leads to a wild climax.

Censored in most of the countries during it’s world-wide release; even the director was charged with obscenity on publishing the screenplay of the film in Japan itself. (Even its trailer in youtube is age-protected!).

8. Nymphomaniac: Vol. I & Vol. II (2013)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdxzno5Xp2Y

Nymphomaniac-poster

The brilliant Danish director Lars von Trier came up with his most recent and probably his most sexually exhaustive film ever.

Edited in two parts, the film accounts for a self-claimed nymphomaniac and her innumerable erotic experiences. 

Charlotte Gainsbourg is as bold as ever but according to many critics the film is nothing but porn.

7. Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)

La vie d’Adèle (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2OLRrocn3s
Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

Two young girls and their relationship – love, desire, despair and a lot of sex. 

Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche – Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos brings to life one of the most sexually detailed lesbian affair on screen. 

The film is highly cinematic and has great emotional impact.

6. 9 Songs (2004)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1HWcofsxJk

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

One of Michael Winterbottom‘s earlier works, this film is a collage of intense sexual encounters and rock concerts!

It doesn’t have a rigid narrative but overall the film manages to capture the mood of the young lovers to perfection.

The love-making scenes are very natural and erotic at the same time.

5. Sex and Lucia (2001)

Lucía y el sexo (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLl_-3vHxFk

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

The Spanish director Julio Medem knows the secrets of erotica better than most of the others in his profession.

And working with as bold an actress as Paz Vega, the film boasts some of the best sensual moments ever created. 

The same director’s Room in Rome (2010) also recommended.

4. Boogie Nights (1997)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOk0fsMGyck

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

Starring Mark WahlbergJulianne MooreJohn C. ReillyHeather Graham – one of the most stylized and sexy film based on the porn industry in California in the 70s.

Directed by none other than Paul Thomas Anderson the film is the perfect combination of power, drugs, sex, music and passion.

The most stylish film in the list!

3. Y Tu Mamá También (2001)

Y tu mamá también (original title)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qg6n7V3kO4

Alfonso CuarónSexually-explicit-erotic-films, the director of famous films like Gravity (2013) and   Children of Men (2006) have also directed this unique film.

Maribel VerdúGael García BernalDaniel Giménez – all together in this journey of self-awareness, eager to take on the teachings of life.

A road trip that involves friendship, love, trust and raw sexuality. Sex comedy at its best.

2. The Dreamers (2003)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU1brBVMBkM

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

Paris 1968, an American student who befriends a French brother and sister and experiences a unique level of friendship.

Michael PittLouis Garrel and the sensuous Eva Green (her first film).

Highly sexual in content, even incest and thus controversial – a film that only the acclaimed Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci could have handled so well. 

Far better than his other famous film Last Tango in Paris (1972).

1. Malèna (2000)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIES83R56RY

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

Probably the most popular film based on the age-old concept of a young boy who is sexually attracted towards an elder woman.

Directed by the master director Giuseppe Tornatore of Cinema Paradiso fame, this Italian film (especially because of the voluptuous beauty Monica Bellucci) has become a benchmark of young sexual awakenings and sensuality. A must watch.

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most unique one. A must watch).

+1. Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c0JTj9sl_Y

Sexually-explicit-erotic-films

And finally an Indian film by an Indian film-maker, none other than Mira Nair.

Starring RekhaNaveen AndrewsIndira VarmaSarita Choudhury among others, the film is an epic tale of sexual rivalry between two girls who were childhood friends. 

Candid sexual scenes throughout the film, elaborate and sensual in a very Indian way!

Some other films with extreme sexual and erotic content that could have easily made the list are I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967)The Lickerish Quartet (1970), A Real Young Girl (1976), Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), Jamón, Jamón (1992), Female Perversions (1996)Pola X (1999), Romance (1999), Killing Me Softly (2002), Wetlands (2013).

And now, a few classics which essentially deals with the psychology of sex like Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Fellini’s Casanova (1976), Luis Buñuel’s Belle de Jour (1967), Pedro Almodóvar’s Bad Education (2004) and Haneke’s The Piano Teacher (2001). 

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Poster courtesy: www.impawards.comwww.imdb.com.

Best Classic Silent Films – the power of visuals (10+1list)

Best Classic Silent Films – the power of visuals

written by Souranath Banerjee.

Best Classic Silent Films – the power of visuals: In the midst of the endless dialogues, song sequences and background music we shouldn’t forget that Cinema is primarily a visual medium of story telling.  

As Alfred Hitchcock once pointed out:

‘If it’s a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a perfectly clear idea of what was going on.’

Alfonso Cuarón in an interview for his film Gravity did mention:

‘I think much of mainstream cinema are films that you can watch with your eyes closed. You enter the cinema, buy your popcorn, sit down, close your eyes, start eating your popcorn the movie begins and the movie ends you didn’t miss one thing because they told you everything. As opposed to you experiencing the film and seeing visual information.’

But believe it or not, in the earlier days of Cinema the directors had no choice but to tell their stories visually (sound wasn’t available due to some unavoidable technological deficiencies).

And yet, what marvelous films they made; the content and the visuals were so empowering that dialogues seemed redundant and pointless.

Well, here is a list of some of the best classic silent films ever made in the history of Cinema.

1. Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)

FIlm trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzNL5JRTI6I

Intolerance-posterObviously D.W. Griffith is more famous for his film The Birth of a Nation but this particular film is probably his best work.

A blend of four stories, set in four different historical eras – French, Babylonian, Judean and Modern; tied together thematically by the subject of “intolerance”. 

At the time, it was the most expensive film but unfortunately not a commercial success.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: The Birth of a Nation (1915), Way Down East (1920) and Orphans of the Storm (1921).

2. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAtpxqajFak

Directed by cabinet-of-dr-caligari-posterRobert Wiene, probably the first ever horror film (made before “horror” was a designated genre).  

The sets were made out of paper and the shadows were painted on the walls – German expressionism at it’s best.

If you don’t know the meaning of the word ‘somnambulist’ and if you are a fan of serial killer mysteries – this is a must watch for you.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: Crime and Punishment (1923) and The Hands of Orlac (1924).

3. Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS5kzTbNKjs

Potemkin-poster

Voted as the 11th greatest film of all time in 2012 Sight & Sound critic’s poll.

The sailors revolt against injustice which leads to a brutal police massacre (the famous Odessa steps sequence).

The genius of Russian director Sergei M. Eisenstein is best showcased in this particular film – a true masterpiece.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: Strike (1925), October (Ten Days that Shook the World) (1928) and Old and New (1929).

4. The Big Parade (1925)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_-BvxzdOr4

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The highest grossing silent film of all time, it made $22 million during its worldwide release!

The first ever ‘war film’ of such epic scale, King Vidor directed this unique film portraying the horrors of war and the effect it caused on young soldiers.

And then there was the love story between an American soldier and a French girl – a perfect blend of war, romance and a bit of comedy too.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: Wild Oranges (1924), Show People (1928) and The Crowd (1928).

5. The General (1926)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99TdN8W6EAA

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More of an action film with good doses of Buster Keaton’s straight faced comedy.

A man almost single-handedly spoils a train-highjack plan and saves his girlfriend too!

Directed by Clyde Bruckman and Buster Keaton, the film is a fast paced powerhouse of entertainment, physical comedy at it’s best. 

Other notable silent films made by the Buster Keaton: Sherlock Jr. (1924)The Navigator (1924), Seven Chances (1925) and Go West (1925).

6. Metropolis (1927)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSExdX0tds4

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The film takes place in 2026 – the first ever SIFi movie and an inspiration to all the futuristic films yet to be made.

Most expensive film of the time, Fritz Lang took a year and a half to shoot and due to it’s commercial failure the production house UFA (Universum Film) went bankrupt.   

A cinematic brilliance, the best of German expressionism.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild’s Revenge (1924), Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler (1922) and Spies (1928).

7. Sunrise (1927)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTID4ZVy6OE

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‘Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans’ is voted as the 5th greatest film of all time in 2012 Sight & Sound critic’s poll.

An unique love story and a perfect cinematic experience – often regarded as the best silent film ever.

Directed by the famous German director F.W. Murnau the film is indeed the most emotional and captivating films i have ever seen. 

Other notable silent films made by the same director: Nosferatu (1922), The Last Laugh (1924) and Faust (1926).

8. The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQj_3AY-E1g

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Voted as the 9th greatest film of all time in 2012 Sight & Sound critic’s poll.

This film directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer is a bible for portraying emotions and expressions with Close-Up shots.

Maria Falconetti, her performance as Joan od Arc is considered by many critics as the single greatest performance ever put on film.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: Leaves Out of the Book of Satan (1920), Master of the House (1925) and Vampyr (1932).

9. The Wind (1928)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Un8SBnjY4

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A young girl comes to stay with her cousin in the west but the weather and the people were too rough for her to handle.

Directed by Victor Sjöström and superb performance by Lillian Gish, this one is undoubtedly the best silent western film ever.

The high-velocity wind was created by the propellers of eight aircraft stationed on location at Mojave Desert (where the film was shot).

Other notable silent films made by the same director: The Outlaw and His Wife (1918), The Phantom Carriage (1921) and He Who Gets Slapped (1924).

10. City Lights (1931)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_W1tOngo-w

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A tramp who falls in love with a blind flower-girl – The ultimate Romantic Comedy ever.

Favorite film of Orson Welles, Andrei Tarkovsky, Stanley KubrickWoody Allen, and even Charles Chaplin himself considered this film to be his best. 

It was a silent film made during the sound era and still was a huge success.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1925), The Circus (1926) and Modern Times (1936).

and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch).

+1. Nanook of the North (1922)

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN1qwowbXR4

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Voted as the 7th greatest documentary of all time in 2014 Sight & Sound critic’s poll.

Probably the first proper documentary shot, director Robert J. Flaherty followed Nanook and his family in the freezing Arctics for a year to achieve this feat.  

A silent documentary made with great aesthetics and intimacy – an inspiration to all the travel/cultural documentaries made till date.

Other notable silent films made by the same director: Man of Aran (1934) and Louisiana Story (1948).

And now a few other legendary silent films that are definitely worth mentioning:

Director Louis Bunuel‘s surrealistic short film Un Chien Andalou (1929), Edward Sedgwick‘s epic comedy The Cameraman (1928), Henry King‘s revenge saga Tol’able David (1921), Clarence Brown‘s film about love and friendship Flesh and the Devil (1926), Georg Wilhelm Pabst‘s take on lust and erotism Pandora’s Box (1929) and a perfect love triangle Wings (1927) directed by William A. Wellman.

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Poster courtesy: www.imdb.comwww.impawards.com.